Betty St. Clair Clay

née Baden-Powell

16 April 1917 - 24 April 2004

Betty Clay died on 24th April 2004 at Elliscombe House nursing home. She had been woken by staff as usual at about 7:30, and had been cheerful, but when they returned half-an-hour later to help her dress, she had departed this life. It was eight days after her 87th birthday.

Betty had been living with her husband of 68 years, Gervas [see www.spanglefish.com/gervasclay] at Pax3, a bungalow in the grounds of the nursing home, since December 1999. A few weeks earlier, Betty had had a fall which stripped some skin off her leg that needed hospital treatment, following which she moved into the nursing home to recuperate in their care, with a view to moving back home when she had recovered fully. It was not to be.

Betty's father was the first Lord Baden-Powell, defender of Mafeking and Founder of the Scout Movement and World Chief Scout. Betty's mother was Olave B-P, World Chief Guide [see www.spanglefish.com/olavebadenpowell]; they married in 1912.

Olave's sister Auriol Davidson died in 1919, leaving three young daughters, whose father was a tea-planter in Ceylon. Olave and Robert took over these three children (Clare, Christian and Yvonne), and brought them up as part of the family, with their own three, Peter, Heather and Betty.

Christian, Heather, Yvonne, Betty, Peter, Clare

Betty went to Westonbirt, and was accepetd by the Royal School of Music for violin and singing - but it was not to be...

From her teens, Betty accompanied her parents on many Scout / Guide excursions and cruises, and on a trip round the world; her journals are to be found elsewhere on this WebSite. In 1936, aged 18, she accompanied her parents on a trip to Africa, but their return voyage had to be postponed after her father fell ill after being bitten by a mosquito.

Betty's parents had met on board ship, and they shared a birthday. When Betty, on board the ship taking them home, met a man who shared her birthday. his fate was sealed.

Betty Clay, August 1936, aged 19

Betty and Gervas (see www.spanglefish.com/gervasclay) were married on 24th September 1936, four months after they met, and they sailed back out to Africa, where Gervas was employed by the Colonial Office in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).

Betty bore and raised a daughter and three sons, and once they were at school she got involved with the local Girl Guides. She ran a Company of Lone Guides, and a Guide Company in Livingstone. She eventually became Colony Commissioner.

In 1960, when Betty's husband was Her Majesty's Resident Commissioner in Barotseland, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother stayed with them for four days.

In 1964 Betty and Gervas retired back to England, and bought Ford Lodge near Wiveliscombe, their home until December 1999 when they moved to Elliscombe Park.

While at Ford Lodge, Betty became involved with the English Girl Guides, and became Commissioner for South West England.

Betty was awarded the C.B.E. for her services to the Girl Guide Movement.

Betty also accompanied her mother, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, D.B.E., World Chief Guide, on some of her tours, and also did some Guiding tours herself, and yet others with her husband. Betty's journals for these tours will also be found elsewhere on this WebSite.